Have that itch to travel but want something beyond mountains and oceans? Then maybe it’s time to explore ancient Greek temples. The ruins of ancient Greece can be seen all over the country, from Turkey to Italy. Temples hold incredible value specifically. These spots were where people went to worship the gods and places where statues were kept safe. If you want to explore and learn more about ancient Greek temples, these are the top six that you should visit.
6. Paestum
Paestum was a major ancient Greek city on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, in Magna Graecia. The ruins of Paestum are famous for their three ancient Greek temples in the Doric order dating from 550 to 450 BCE that are still in an excellent state of preservation. The three temples include the First Temple of Hera, the Second Temple of Hera, and the Temple of Athena.
5. Erechtheion
Next on the list of best ancient Greek temples is the Erechtheion, or the Temple of Athena Polias, located on the Acropolic, Athens, which was primarily dedicated to the goddess Athena. This iconic building housed the statue of Athena Polias and is unique among Greek temples because of its asymmetrical composition that does not fit with the rest of classic Greek architecture.
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4. Valley of the Temples
Valle dei Templi, or Valley of the Temples, is an archaeological site in Agrigento, Sicily, and is considered one of the best locations to go to see the best ancient Greek temples. It’s one of the most outstanding examples of ancient Greek art and architecture of Magna Graecia. In the valley are seven temples, all in Doric style, including the Temples of Concordia, Hera, Heracles, Olympian Zeus, Castor and Pollux, Hephaestus, and Ascelpius.
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3. Temple of Poseidon
The Temple of Poseidon is one of the best ancient Greek temples that you should visit. The temple is located on Cape Sounion, Greece, and is dedicated to the god Poseidon. It is believed that the temple was visited primarily by the elite and the aristocratic class. Due to sea trades and the significance of the navy, Poseidon, master of the sea, was held in high regard during this time.
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2. Temple of Hera
Next on the list of best ancient Greek temples that you need to visit is the Temple of Hera at Olympia, Greece. As the name suggests, this temple is dedicated to Hera, queen of the Greek gods, and is the oldest temple at Olympia and one of the most vulnerable in all of Greece. It was originally a joint temple of Hera and Zeus, husband of Hera and chief of the gods, until a separate temple was built for him.
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1. Parthenon
The number one most important ancient Greek temple goes to the Parthenon, a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, that was dedicated to the goddess Athena. The Parthenon is considered an enduring symbol of ancient Greece, democracy, and Western civilization. Built in the 5th century BC, the Parthenon served as the city treasury of the Delian League, which later became the Athenian Empire.
